Tensioning member for inflatable product, and inflatable product

ABSTRACT

An inflatable product includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet at least partially defining an inflatable chamber. The inflatable product also includes a tensioning member which includes a first belt having a first top extension, a first bottom extension, and a first base extending between the first top extension and the first bottom extension. The tensioning member also includes a second belt having a second top extension, a second bottom extension, and a second base extending between the second top extension and the second bottom extension. The first top extension of the first belt and the second top extension of the second belt are attached to the top sheet, and the first bottom extension of the first belt and the second bottom extension of the second belt are attached to the bottom sheet. The first base and second base each have two side edges with arcuate-shaped recesses.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. patent application claims priority to and the benefit of Chinese patent application number CN201922180262.1, filed Dec. 9, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to an inflatable product, and more specifically to an inflatable product that includes a tensioning member.

2. Related Art

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Inflatable products are popular consumer items, and may include, for example, inflatable beds, inflatable mattresses, inflatable sofas, inflatable pools, and inflatable toys, which are widely favored by consumers over their non-inflatable counterparts, at least because they are light weight, foldable, portable, comfortable, etc. These inflatable products commonly include a number of tensioning members to keep the shapes of the inflatable products, as desired by their users after inflation.

A major defect of existing tensioning members used in inflatable products is that the tensioning members may have a high cost and/or a low tensile strength. Consequently, there exists a need for an inflatable product with improved tensioning members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and should not be interpreted as a complete and comprehensive listing of all of the objects, aspects, features and advantages associated with the present disclosure.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an inflatable product is provided. The inflatable product includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet disposed opposite the top sheet, with the top sheet and the bottom sheet at least partially defining an inflatable chamber. The inflatable product also includes a tensioning member. The tensioning member includes a first belt having a first top extension, a first bottom extension, and a first base extending between the first top extension and the first bottom extension. The tensioning member also includes a second belt having a second top extension, a second bottom extension, and a second base extending between the second top extension and the second bottom extension. The first top extension of the first belt and the second top extension of the second belt are attached to the top sheet, and the first bottom extension of the first belt and the second bottom extension of the second belt are attached to the bottom sheet. The first base and second base each have two side edges with arcuate-shaped recesses.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an inflatable product is provided. The inflatable product includes a top sheet and a bottom sheet disposed opposite the top sheet, with the top sheet and the bottom sheet at least partially defining an inflatable chamber. The inflatable product also includes a tensioning member. The tensioning member includes a first belt having a first top extension, a first bottom extension, and a first base extending between the first top extension and the first bottom extension. The tensioning member also includes a second belt having a second top extension, a second bottom extension, and a second base extending between the second top extension and the second bottom extension. The first top extension of the first belt and the second top extension of the second belt are attached to the top sheet, and the first bottom extension of the first belt and the second bottom extension of the second belt are attached to the bottom sheet. The first belt and the second belt are symmetrically arranged with respect to each other to define a generally annular cross-section.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples set forth in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings, as shown and described herein, are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The inventive concepts associated with the present disclosure will be more readily understood by reference to the following description, in combination with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial cutaway perspective view of an inflatable mattress including tensioning members, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a tensioning member of the inflatable mattress shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway perspective view of an inflatable mattress including tensioning members, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the a tensioning member of the inflatable mattress shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a Tarpaulin material that may be used for the tensioning members in some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The implementation and application of the embodiments will be discussed in detail below. However, it should be understood that the specific embodiments discussed only exemplarily describe the implementations and uses of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Throughout the description, the structural positions of various components, e.g., upper, lower, top, bottom, etc., are not absolute but relative descriptions. The orientation expressions are appropriate when the various components are arranged, as shown in the Figs., but should change accordingly when the positions of the various components in the Figs. change.

As used herein, “inflatable product” (or “inflatable body”) includes, but is not limited to, an inflatable bed, an inflatable mattress, an inflatable pool, an inflatable boat, an inflatable raft, an inflatable toy, and any other products that can be inflated.

It should be understood that the embodiments shown in the Figs. only show example shapes, dimensions, and arrangements of the inflatable product according to the present disclosure, which are merely illustrative but not restrictive. It should be appreciated that other shapes, dimensions, and arrangements may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are not only intended to explain and illustrate the present invention, but also contribute to the definition of the present invention if necessary. Furthermore, in the description, technical terms with directional expressions, such as, for example, “top,” “bottom,” “top sheet,” and “bottom sheet,” etc. are defined according to the directions shown in the accompanying drawings, and these technical terms are merely descriptive and not limiting.

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. In general, the subject embodiments are directed to an inflatable product. In the description and the accompanying drawings, the inflatable product described and shown is an inflatable mattress. Of course, the type of inflatable product is not limiting. The present invention can cover any inflatable products, such as and without limitation, inflatable sofas, inflatable pools, and inflatable toys.

FIG. 1 shows a partial cutaway perspective view of an inflatable mattress which includes tensioning members 1 a, according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the tensioning member 1 a of the inflatable mattress in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inflatable mattress comprises a top sheet 2, a bottom sheet 3 and a lateral sheet 4. An outer edge of the top sheet 2 is coupled to a top edge of the lateral sheet 4, and an outer edge of the bottom sheet 3 is coupled to a bottom edge of the lateral sheet 4, such that an inflatable body delimiting an air chamber is formed. In other words, the air chamber is defined between the top sheet 2 and the bottom sheet 3 and is bounded by the lateral sheet 4. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the top sheet 2 and the bottom sheet 3 may be coupled to the lateral sheet 4 by various methods such as but not limited to high-frequency welding. However, other connection methods, including without limitation, adhesives and/or fasteners may be used. The top sheet 2, the bottom sheet 3, and/or the lateral sheet 4 may be made of a PVC material or a Tarpaulin material, including a net sandwiched between solid two sheets, as shown in FIG. 5.

The inflatable mattress also includes a plurality of tensioning members 1 a within the inflatable body, and these tensioning members 1 a are connected to the top sheet 2 and the bottom sheet 3 to tension and keep a desired shape of the inflatable body. In some embodiments, these tensioning members 1 a are arranged inside the inflatable body in a rectangular array, as shown.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tensioning member 1 a includes a first belt 11 and a second belt 12, with each of the first belt 11 and the second belt 12 extending between the top sheet 2 and the bottom sheet 3 for providing a connection therebetween. The first belt 11 and the second belt 12 are symmetrically arranged with respect to each other to form an annular structure. More specifically, the first belt 11 and the second belt 12 are symmetrically arranged to define a generally annular cross-section. Such a generally annular cross-section may include any closed-loop shape, such as a box shape, which may include one or more sides that bulge outwardly or inwardly. More specifically and as shown in FIG. 2, the generally annular cross-section of the first belt 11 and the second belt 12 may take the form of a quadrilateral-shaped cross-section. It should be appreciated that these are merely examples, and the first belt 11 and the second belt 12 may together to define any generally annular cross-sectional shape.

The first belt 11 includes a first base 111 that extends between a first top extension 112 and a first bottom extension 113. The first top extension 112 extends parallel and adjacent to the top sheet 2 and is joined thereto. Likewise, the first bottom extension 113 extends parallel and adjacent to the bottom sheet 3 and is joined thereto. The first base 111 is a generally rectangular sheet. Each of the first top extension 112 and the first bottom extension 113 extends from a corresponding edge of the first base 111 in a common direction. The second belt 12 includes a second base 121 that that extends between a second top extension 122 and a second bottom extension 123. The second top extension 122 extends parallel and adjacent to the top sheet 2 and is joined thereto. Likewise, the second bottom extension 123 extends parallel and adjacent to the bottom sheet 3 and is joined thereto. The second base 121 is a generally rectangular sheet. Each of the second top extension 122 and the second bottom extension 123 extends from a corresponding edge of the second base 121 in a common direction.

Accordingly, the first base 111 and the second base 121 extend substantially vertically between the top sheet 2 and the bottom sheet 3. The first top extension 112 and the second top extension 122 extend toward each other to jointly form a top connection portion of the tensioning member 1 a for connection to the top sheet 2. In some embodiments, the top connection portion is fixed to the top sheet 2 by high-frequency welding. For example, as shown in Fig.1 and FIG. 2, the first top extension 112 of the first belt 11 is welded to the top sheet 2 along a first top seam 116. The second top extension 122 of the second belt 12 is welded to the top sheet 2 along a second top seam 126. The first top extension 112 of the first belt 11 is welded to the second top extension 122 of the second belt 12 along a third top seam 120. The first top seam 116 is spaced apart from the second top seam 126 to define two gaps, with one of the gaps between corresponding ends of the first top seam 116 and the second top seam 126. The third top seam 120 extends through each of the two gaps between the first top seam 116 and the second top seam 126. The first top seam 116 and the second top seam 126 are each arch-shaped, and together form a generally circular contour, as illustrated. The contour may be visible from outside of the inflatable mattress. Of course, the shapes of the first top seam 116 and the second top seam 126 are not limiting and can be varied according to the appearance requirements of the inflatable mattress.

Likewise, the first bottom extension 113 and the second bottom extension 123 extend toward each other to jointly form a bottom connection portion of the tensioning member 1 a for connection to the bottom sheet 3. In some embodiments, the bottom connection portion is fixed to the bottom sheet 3 by high-frequency welding. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the first bottom extension 113 is welded to the bottom sheet 3 along a first bottom seam 117. The second bottom extension 123 is welded to the bottom sheet 3 along a second bottom seam 127. The first bottom seam 117 and the second bottom seam 127 jointly form a generally circular contour, as illustrated. The contour may be visible from outside of the inflatable mattress. Of course, the shapes of the first bottom seam 117 and the second bottom seam 127 are not limiting and can be varied according to the appearance requirements of the inflatable mattress.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the first base 111 and the second base 121 each have two side edges extending between a respective top connection portion and a respective bottom connection portion, with the two side edges each defining an arcuate-shaped recess 114, 124. In embodiments in which the first base 111 and the second base 121 have a generally rectangular shape, the “side edges” may extend substantially perpendicular to the top sheet 2 and the bottom sheet 3. In some embodiments, the tensioning member 1 a includes a pair of arcuate-shaped recesses 114, 124, with at least one of the two side edges of each of the first base 111 and the second base 112 defining a corresponding one of the pair of arcuate-shaped recesses 114, 124. In some embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 2, the tensioning member 1 a includes four arcuate-shaped recesses 114, 124, with each of the two side edges of each of the first base 111 and the second base 112 defining a corresponding one of the four arcuate-shaped recesses 114, 124. Compared with linear side edges, these arcuate-shaped recesses 114, 124 can reduce the amount of material used to construct the tensioning member 1 a. Furthermore, these arcuate-shaped recesses 114, 124 may also improve the tensile strength of the tensioning member 1 a, making the tensioning member 1 a less prone to breakage.

The tensioning member 1 a can be made of the same material as the top sheet 2, the bottom sheet 3 and/or the lateral sheet 4. That is to say, the tensioning member 1 a may be made of a PVC material and/or a Tarpaulin material, as shown in FIG. 5.

The first top extension 112 and the second top extension 122 may be first connected to each other, for example by welding, such as by high-frequency welding, to form an integrated top connection portion. The top connection portion may then be connected to the top sheet 2, and the first bottom extension 113 and the second bottom extension 123 may be connected to the bottom sheet 3, thus providing a complete tensioning member structure. Similarly, the first bottom extension 113 and the second bottom extension 123 may also be connected to each other, for example by high-frequency welding, to form an integrated bottom connection portion. The bottom connection portion may be connected to the bottom sheet 3.The first top extension 112 and the second top extension 122 may be connected to the top sheet 2, thus providing a complete tensioning member structure. Of course, the first top extension 112 and the second top extension 122 may also be directly connected to the top sheet 2, and the first bottom extension 113 and the second bottom extension 123 may be connected to the bottom sheet 3 without first directly connecting the first belt 11 and the second belt 12.

According to some embodiments, the first bottom extension 113 of the first belt 11 and the second bottom extension 123 of the second belt 12 are integrally formed from a single contiguous piece of material. For example, the tensioning member 1 a may be made from a single contiguous piece of material, which is symmetrically bent to form the first belt 11 and the second belt 12 which are formed integrally with each other.

According to some embodiments, and as shown in FIGS. 1-2, the inflatable mattress includes a plurality of tensioning members 1 a, each having an axial length along an axis A that extends orthogonally through a center of the quadrilateral-shaped cross-section, with the axial length being less than a height of the tensioning member 1 a between the top sheet 2 and the bottom sheet 3.

According to some embodiments, and as shown in FIGS. 1-2, the inflatable mattress includes a plurality of tensioning members 1 a arranged in a grid pattern. The grid pattern may include a first plurality of tensioning members that are each spaced apart from one another along the axis A. The grid pattern may also include a second plurality of tensioning members 1 a that are each spaced apart from one another along a line that extends orthogonally with respect to the axis A. This grid pattern may take the form of rows and columns of a rectangular array, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 3 shows a partial cutaway perspective view of a further inflatable mattress which includes tensioning members 1 b, according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the tensioning member 1 b of the inflatable mattress in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the tensioning member 1 b, according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, has a similar configuration to the tensioning member 1 a, according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, except that the first base 111 defines a first hole 115 therethrough, and the second base 121 defines a second hole 125 therethrough. Due to the provision of the first arcuate-shaped recesses 114 and the second arcuate-shaped recesses 124 and the selection of material, the tensile strength of the tensioning member 1 b can be ensured. Moreover, the provision of the first hole 115 and the second hole 125 further reduces the amount of material used to make the tensioning member 1 b, and the removed material may be recycled. The first hole 115 and/or the second hole 125 may have a circular shape or an oval shape capable of ensuring a high tensile strength.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the first bottom extension 113 is formed integrally with the second bottom extension 123. In fact, compared with the tensioning member 1 a with two separately formed tensile belt halves in FIG. 2, the tensioning member 1 b made from a single sheet is symmetrically bent to form the first belt 11 and the second belt 12 which are formed integrally with each other, and the first top extension 112 and the second top extension 122 are formed at two adjacent regions of the single sheet. For the tensioning member 1 b, the bottom connection portion (i.e., the first bottom extension 113 and the second bottom extension 123 which are integrally formed) may be connected to the bottom sheet 3, and the first top extension 112 and the second top extension 122 are connected to the top sheet 2, such that a complete tensioning member structure is obtained.

The technical content and technical features of the present disclosure are disclosed above, but it could be understood that those skilled in the art may make variations and improvements to the concepts disclosed above under the inventive concepts of the present invention, and all such variations and improvements fall into the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention shall be defined by the claims.

Although multiple embodiments have been described herein, various modifications may be made to these embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all such modifications still belong within the concepts of the present invention and fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention. The scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.

The disclosed systems and methods of operation are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular implementations disclosed above are illustrative only, as the teachings of the present disclosure may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended by the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative implementations disclosed above may be altered, combined, or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The systems and methods of operation illustratively disclosed herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically disclosed herein and/or any optional element disclosed herein. The terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined in the specification. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that it introduces. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patents or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted.

As used herein, the phrase “at least one of” preceding a series of items, with the terms “and” or “or” to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each article of the list (i.e., each item). The phrase “at least one of” includes at least one of any one of the items, and/or at least one of any combination of the items, and/or at least one of each of the items. By way of example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” or “at least one of A, B, or C” may each refer to only A, only B, or only C. Claim recitations of “first” or “second” are not necessarily limited to usage in the specification unless otherwise supported within the claim terminology. The various features described in reference to specific embodiments can be arranged with other embodiments without departing from the subject disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An inflatable product, comprising: a top sheet; a bottom sheet disposed opposite the top sheet, the top sheet and the bottom sheet at least partially defining an inflatable chamber; a tensioning member including: a first belt having a first top extension, a first bottom extension, and a first base extending between the first top extension and the first bottom extension; and a second belt having a second top extension, a second bottom extension, and a second base extending between the second top extension and the second bottom extension; wherein the first top extension of the first belt and the second top extension of the second belt are attached to the top sheet, and the first bottom extension of the first belt and the second bottom extension of the second belt are attached to the bottom sheet; and wherein the first base and second base each have two side edges with arcuate-shaped recesses.
 2. The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein the first belt and the second belt are symmetrically arranged with respect to each other to define a quadrilateral-shaped cross-section.
 3. The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein the two side edges of each of the first base and the second base each extend between a respective one of the first top extension or the second top extension and a respective one of the first bottom extension or the second bottom extension.
 4. The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein the first top extension of the first belt is welded to the top sheet along a first seam, and the second top extension of the second belt is welded to the top sheet along a second seam.
 5. The inflatable product of claim 4, wherein the first top extension and the second top extension are connected to one another along a third seam.
 6. The inflatable product of claim 5, wherein the first seam of the first top extension and second seam of the second top extension are each arch-shaped.
 7. The inflatable product of claim 6, wherein there are two gaps between the first seam of the first top extension and the second seam of the second top extension, and wherein the third seam goes through the two gaps.
 8. The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein the first bottom extension of the first belt is welded to the bottom sheet along a fourth seam, and the second bottom extension of the second belt is welded to the bottom sheet along a fifth seam.
 9. The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first base or the second base includes a hole therethrough.
 10. The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein each of the first base and the second base includes a hole therethrough.
 11. The inflatable product of claim 10, wherein the hole through at least one of the first base or the second base has a circular shape or an oval shape.
 12. The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein the first bottom extension of the first belt and the second bottom extension of the second belt are integrally formed from a single contiguous piece of material.
 13. The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein the first belt and a second belt are made from one of a PVC material or a Tarpaulin material.
 14. The inflatable product of claim 2, wherein the tensioning member is one of a plurality of tensioning members, wherein each tensioning member has an axial length along an axis extending orthogonally through a center of the quadrilateral-shaped cross-section of the tensioning member; and wherein the axial length of each tensioning member is less than a height of the tensioning member between the top sheet and the bottom sheet.
 15. The inflatable product of claim 2, wherein the tensioning member extends along an axis extending orthogonally through a center of the quadrilateral-shaped cross-section of the tensioning member.
 16. The inflatable product of claim 15, wherein the tensioning member is one of a first plurality of tensioning members and the tensioning member is one of a second plurality of tensioning members; and wherein the inflatable product includes the first plurality of tensioning members each spaced apart from one another along the axis, and the inflatable product includes the second plurality of tensioning members each spaced apart from one another along a line extending orthogonally with respect to the axis.
 17. The inflatable product of claim 1, wherein the inflatable product is one of an inflatable mattress, an inflatable sofa, an inflatable pool, or an inflatable toy.
 18. An inflatable product, comprising: a top sheet; a bottom sheet disposed opposite the top sheet, the top sheet and the bottom sheet at least partially defining an inflatable chamber; a tensioning member including: a first belt having a first top extension, a first bottom extension, and a first base extending between the first top extension and the first bottom extension; and a second belt having a second top extension, a second bottom extension, and a second base extending between the second top extension and the second bottom extension; wherein the first top extension of the first belt and the second top extension of the second belt are attached to the top sheet, and the first bottom extension of the first belt and the second bottom extension of the second belt are attached to the bottom sheet; and wherein the first belt and the second belt are symmetrically arranged with respect to each other to define a generally annular cross-section.
 19. The inflatable product of claim 18, wherein the first base and second base each have two side edges, with each of the two side edges defining an arcuate-shaped recess.
 20. The inflatable product of claim 18, wherein the generally annular cross-section is a quadrilateral-shaped cross-section.
 21. The inflatable product of claim 18, wherein the tensioning member extends along an axis extending orthogonally through a center of the generally annular cross-section of the tensioning member; wherein the tensioning member is one of a first plurality of tensioning members and the tensioning member is one of a second plurality of tensioning members; and wherein the inflatable product includes the first plurality of tensioning members each spaced apart from one another along the axis, and the inflatable product includes the second plurality of tensioning members each spaced apart from one another along a line extending orthogonally with respect to the axis.
 22. The inflatable product of claim 18, wherein the inflatable product is one of an inflatable mattress, an inflatable sofa, an inflatable pool, or an inflatable toy. 